The ancestral bed

This week we had an overnight stay at my brother and sister in law’s house.  The bed we slept in was the first we ever owned, I begged it from my parents when we bought our first house around 1973.    The bed lived on the farm in a room above the kitchen which had its own separate very steep staircase. When I was a child one of our farm workers slept in there and when he’d left my Gran sometimes used the room as it was slightly warmer than all the other unheated bedrooms.

It was a black iron bed with a mesh base and a worse for wear feather mattress when we took possession.  MrFF made a new ventilated wooden base, we bought a new Dunloppilo mattress and painted the frame matt white. I wish I had more photos, this is the only one I can find.

After a few years we bought a new bed and the old one was relegated to the guest room.  It then travelled to several homes with us until we downsized from Scotland 11 years ago when I persuaded my brother to take it for his new bungalow because I couldn't bear to part with it.  It’s now painted silver and still going strong. We slept in it this week and mentioned next morning how comfortable it was.  My sister in law told me that the grandchildren love a sleepover in the old bed and always remark on it.  I think it’s just wonderful, I’ve no idea how old the heavy metal frame is but I know for certain that the great great grandmother of the youngest generation slept in that bed and possible even older ancestors.   The continuity is amazing and a fine example of sustainability.